Los Angeles Kings Extend Prospect Brandon Kozun Deal for Extra Year

By Isaak Koenka

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi announced that Brandon Kozun of the Manchester Monarchs would be signing a one-year extension on his two-way deal with the club. The forward has spent the past four years in the Kings system, however, has only seen the sparse preseason game since moving there from his Junior club.

Before his four years with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Canadian Junior League, Kozun was raised in the illustrious hockey town of Los Angeles, Calif. He’s a hometown boy, and there are plenty of his fans still around. They are just waiting for him to break onto the scene at the Staples Center.

Kozun was a late-round draft pick. He is undersized, but skilled. He stands listed at 5-foot-8, but that figure could be argued. He has good hands, and is a natural playmaker. Before heading to the Monarchs, he had obtained seven points in the World Junior Championship in only six games. His talent and potential are noted. His physicality and size are also noted to his detriment.

This last season with the Monarchs, a second of consistent seasons in which he picked up about 50 points in about 70 games both times. He also managed to get some scoring done in the playoffs during the Calder Cup.

Most likely only to be used as a depth forward and kept in the minors, his deal will not affect the negotiations currently underway with Rob Scuderi or Dustin Penner in their free agency meetings with the club. To prove the age of this writer, the last thing will be this: Brandon Kozun is a better version of Pavel Rosa, and could be a hometown hero someday.

Isaak Koenka is a writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @gonz0bear LIKE him on: Facebook. Say hi on google+ or LinkedIn